Boeremag, cops at loggerheads

2003-10-30 18:20

Pretoria - Tension between the Boeremag treason trialists and the police was evident in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday, with allegations of maltreatment, swearing and name calling being bandied about.

The trialists face 42 charges ranging from murder and attempted murder to treason, terrorism, and the illegal possession of arms, ammunition and explosives. The trial is expected to last up to three years.

Piet Pistorius, appearing for 13 of the men, complained in the morning that his clients were being transported to and from court in unsuitable vehicles, and were hurt in the process.

The prosecution retorted that police have complained of the accused calling them "baboons" and "oerdiere" (primordial animals). Some allegedly expressed the wish that their keepers had died in the womb, said chief prosecutor Paul Fick.

Two defence lawyers asked Judge Eben Jordaan to forbid the media from writing Fick's claims as it could hurt their clients' public image and place them in danger. They complained of "sensationalist" media reporting on the case.

At least one of the trialists denied uttering such words.

The judge declined to an order to this effect, but pointed out that the claims were untested.

Defence counsel also complained about the lack of space and poor acoustics in the court.

Bernard Bantjes told Jordaan that a lack of space precluded him from bringing to court any of the numerous files containing the case docket. The dock was also too small for all 22 accused.

Bantjes said he suspected maliciousness as the authorities must have known right from the start that the courtroom set aside for the trial in the Palace of Justice was unsuitable.

Jordaan said he had sympathy with the complaints. He said he would lead a delegation of Boeremag lawyers to the office of Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe on Friday morning to seek a solution to the logistical problems.

- SAPA